Roller applicator

ABSTRACT

A surface application processing device for processing sheets and/or webs of material in which a soft, flexible blanket rests on one or more solution-applying rollers partly immersed in a processing solution. The blanket ensures good contact between the solution-applying rollers and the undersurface of a material being processed thereby.

United States Patent 1191 Howe et al. Mar. 25, 1975 ROLLER APPLICATOR [56] References Cited [75] Inventors: John Gerald Howe; Edward Charles UNITED STATES PATENTS Tim hy Samuel Glover, both of 2,688,305 9/1954 Wray et a1. 118/246 x London, England 3,187,659 6/1965 Edens etal. 118/246 X Assignee: Eastman Kodak p y 3,477,356 1 1/1969 Ray et al 354/318 Rochester Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-S. W. Gremban [21] Appl. No.: 355,129

[57] ABSTRACT A surface application processing device for processing [30] Forelgn Apphc au0n Priority Data sheets and/or webs of material in which a soft, flexible 1972 PLteiKflgq9P1 19692/72 blanket rests on one or more solution-applying rollers partly immersed in a processing solution. The blanket ensures good Contact between the solutiomapplying o o 6 6 1 6 l s 6 I 6 s 1 I 6 u I I 6 6 u 6 I 6 6 d f f l b I. [58] Field of Search 118/246, 244, 223, 637, rollers and the ace 0 a matena emg pm ll8/DIG. 23', 354/318, 331

cessed thereby.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 ROLLER APPLICATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to processing devices, and more specifically to a surface application processing device for processing sheets and/or webs of material.

2. Description of the Prior Art Surface application processing devices of the type in which a sheet and/or web of material to be processed is advanced by transport rollers over solution-applying rollers partially immersed in a processing solution are well known in the art. Such processing devices are particularly applicable to the photographic processing field. In such processing devices, the processing solution is applied to the-undersurface of the moving material at one position and is removed at another position, the sheet being moved at a suitable speed for the desired processing operation, or stage of the operation, to be completed between these two positions. The processing solution is applied to the undersurface of the material by a roller partially immersed in the solution, or by other solution applications means known in the art. To achieve proper processing, it is important that the moving material be correctly position, or guided in relation to the solution application means. A known sheet or material guiding means comprises a rigid guide spaced from and above the rollers, and the upper sur face of the material engages such guide during transport of the material through the device. Such guide can cause surface abrasion of the sheet being processed under some circumstances, and must be precisely positioned for optimum processing results. Such precise positioning ofthhe guide is difficult to achieve, and when achieved does not uniformly press or hold the material in intimate engagement with the solution applying rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a surface application processing device is disclosed comprising means for guiding a transported material to be processed into intimate engagement with solution-applying means, such as rollers partially immersed in a processing solution. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guiding means comprises a flexible blanket anchored at the material inlet end of the processing device to prevent movement of the blanket through the processing device with the material. The flexible blanket is preferably constructed from a cellular foamed material such as rubber or the like, and in the absence of a material to be processed abovethe rollers tends to assume an undulating shape. The blanket is anchored adjacent the material inlet end of the processing device, and flexes along its length.

Some of the advantages of the material guiding means of this invention is its simplicity and ease of manufacture, and the elimination of the necessity for holding the guiding means to precise or close tolerances. Furthermore, such material guidin g means is believed to more uniformly press the entire surface of means, thereby resulting in increased processing uniformity.

It is, accordingly, one of the objects and advantages of the present invention to provide an improved material guiding means for a surface application processing device that is of simple design and constructiomthoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Another object and advantage of the invention is to provide an improved material guiding means for a surface application processing device that eliminates the necessity of constructing the guide means to precise di- -mensions and close tolerances.

Another object and advantage of the invention is to provide an improved sheet guiding means for a surface application processing device that uniformly presses flexible materials fed through the device into intimate engagement with the solution application means, thereby resulting in increased processing uniformity.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section schematically illustrating a preferred embodiment of the surface application processing device of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a differ- I ent latching meansfor latching one end of the blanket to a fixed support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Because surface application processing devices are well known, the description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Elements of the processing device not speciflcally shown or described herein should be understood to be selectable from those known in the art.

With reference to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the surface application processing device of this invention comprises a shallow tray 10 containing a processing solution 12 which is to be applied to the undersurface of a material 14 to be processed, such as a photographic sheet and/or web. The surface of the photographic material, may, for example, have a photographic developer incorporated in its coating, and a solution to be applied to the surface may comprise an activator for this developer, or a stabilizer. The means for applying the processing solution to the undersurface of material 14 comprises a plurality of solution applying rollers 16 mounted by any suitable means for rotation with portions of the rollers partially immersed in the processing solution 12 for picking up a layer of solution and applying it to the material upon rotation of the rollers. The rollersv 16 are preferably journaled in supports, not shown, in parallel relation to one another, and horizontally spaced along the length of tray 10. a pair of opposed, pressure transport rollers 18 comprising one roller supported vertically above another roller are suitably mounted at the material inlet end of tray 10 for transporting a material 14 to be processed over solution applying rollers 16 toward a similar pair of transport rollers 18 at the outlet end of the device for 3 transporting the processed material out of the processing device.

To ensure optimum contact between solution applying rollers 16 and material 14 being processed, a flexible blanket 20 rests on all of the rollers 16 when the material is not present, taking the shape of the upper portions of these rollers, and capable of being separated from the rollers by material 14 transported therebetween. The blanket 20 .is substantially rectangular, and at least as wide as the material to be processed, and the blanket end 22 nearest to inlet rollers 18 is anchored or fastened to a rod 24 which extends across the width of tray 10, and is mounted by anysuitable means on the processing device. The end 22 of blanket 20 is looped over rod 24 and secured to the upper side of the blanket to provide anchorage against longitudinal movement of the blanket. In FIG. 2 another form of blanket fastening means is illustrated comprising a plurality of spaced loops 26 of filamentary material such as textile, polymer or wire material securing blanket end 22 to rod 24. Although transverse movement of blanket 20 along anchorage rod 24 is limited, a slight longitudinal movement of blanket end 22 toward or away from the leading solution applying roller 16 is permitted to facilitate entry below blanket end 22 of the material to be processed, and to, urge the material 14 lightly into engagement with this roller. The remainder of blanket 20 is free to be moved vertically by the material 14 passing thereunder, and maintains the material in intimate light pressure engagement with solution applying rollers 16. Thus the blanket 20 provides a self-adjusting material guiding means.

A suitable material for blanket 20 is a flexible, closed cell, foamed rubber sheet, a thickness of one-eighth inch being found suitable in one processor. Other materials, such as polyethylene of approximately 0.02inch thickness can also be used. The blanket 20 may resist flexure across its width more than across its lengthThe anchorage rod 24 and the looping of the blanket material around the rod produces a stiffening of blanket 20 to resist flexure across the width at the entry end of the blanket. Further stiffening may be provided by transverse ribs, not shown, formed on or attached to blanket 4 opposite direction.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove.

We claim:

1. In a surface application photographic processing device for processing the exposed photosensitive surface of a web or sheet of material by applying thereto a layer of processing solution, the combination comprising:

a container for holding a processing solution;

a plurality of spaced apart, rotatably driven rollers partially immersed in the processing solution for transporting a material through the processing device and simultaneously applying the processing solution to one surface ofv said material in engagement with said rollers for processing said material during its transport; and

a flexible'blanket supported by said rollers for engaging the opposite surface of said material and guiding said material with said one surface thereof pressed and held into intimate engagement with said rollers. 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said device further has a material inlet end and a stationary support'adjacent said inlet end, and said flexible blanket has an elongated opening at one end for receiving said support, and its opposite end free.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said I support comprises a rod, and said opening is enlarged relative to said rod to allow slight movement of said one end of said blanket relative to said rod.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said device further has a material inlet end and a stationary support adjacent said inlet end, and said blanket comprises a sheet of foamed material having one end secured to said stationary support and its opposite end free. i

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said stationary support comprises a rod extending through an elongated opening at said one end of said sheet of foamed material.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said opening is enlarged relative to said rod to allow slight movement of said one end of said blanket relative to said rod.

7. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said stationary support comprises a rod, and said sheet of foamed material is connected to said rod by spaced loops of filamentary material. 

1. In a surface application photographic processing device for processing the exposed photosensitive surface of a web or sheet of material by applying thereto a layer of processing solution, the combination comprising: a container for holding a processing solution; a plurality of spaced apart, rotatably driven rollers partially immersed in the processing solution for transporting a material through the processing device and simultaneously applying the processing solution to one surface of said material in engagement with said rollers for processing said material during its transport; and a flexible blanket supported by said rollers for engaging the opposite surface of said material and guiding said material with said one surface thereof pressed and held into intimate engagement with said rollers.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said device further has a material inlet end and a stationary support adjacent said inlet end, and said flexible blanket has an elongated opening at one end for receiving said support, and its opposite end free.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said support comprises a rod, and said opening is enlarged relative to said rod to allow slight movement of said one end of said blanket relative to said rod.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said device further has a material inlet end and a stationary support adjacent said inlet end, and said blanket comprises a sheet of foamed material having one end secured to said stationary support and its opposite end free.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said stationary support comprises a rod extending through an elongated opening at said one end of said sheet of foamed material.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said opening is enlarged relative to said rod to allow slight movement of said one end of said blanket relative to said rod.
 7. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said stationary support comprises a rod, and said sheet of foamed material is connected to said rod by spaced loops of filamentary material. 